Sweet Island Getaways and Cool Beachside Hotels (all starting under US$101!)
We’re always on the look out for original beach getaways that fit our budget. We often seek laid-back spots where we can chill on the sand, read our books on a hammock, or take quiet walks along the water. We’ll take the colorful cottage with open-air showers or the hillside mansion with ocean view balconies. Maybe we’ll be holed up on an out-of-the-way island? Not bad. Or perhaps it’ll be an attractive town where we can walk to lunch on the way to the beach. Our fellow travelers are friendly, our hosts are welcoming, and there are good vibes all around.
We took some time to sort through our growing list of darn good digs to see what beach-side digs and island getaways have rooms starting under US$101, sometimes way under! The locales range from Brazil to Spain, but the Caribbean definitely dominates our list. We’re just getting started building a guide to the best independently owned hotels, b&b’s, and hostels for budget-minded travelers, so if you have any places you think we should add, by all means, let us know by nominating your favorite digs!
Pousada Santa Clara
Pousada Santa Clara is on off-the-beaten path Boipeba Island in Bahia, Brazil . With first-class food, deserted beaches, massage spa by the ocean, private hammocks and fabulous owners, this secret spot shot to the top our own personal must-visit list! Doubles start at US$65. Alison McGowan at Hidden Pousadas gave us this insider tip.
Pension Altair is sparkly new, modern, and sleek! Its owner, Ricardo, is super-friendly and was very sweet and welcoming to us and our three year old boy. We enjoyed our daily chats with him and appreciated his great tips on things to do and places to eat in San Sebastian. The Pension is just a short walk to Gros beach. Rooms start at 32 Euros.
Jake's Resort
The cottages at Jake’s Resort on Jamaica’s sleepy southwest coast are supremely funky, and most overlook the beautiful rocky shoreline. We dug the outdoor restaurant which serves delicious Jamaican dishes, as well as the mellow bar adjoining the pool. Somehow Jake’s manages to be ultra-cool and family friendly at the same time. Doubles start at $95.
La Finca Caribe is on a hill in the middle of Vieques, a small island just six miles off the east coast of Puerto Rico, and the views of the forest down to the Caribbean Sea are fantastic. La Finca provides loads of pillows, hammocks, and cushy seating areas where travelers mingle, and share stories and margaritas. Doubles start at US$65. A friend of ours, and killer math teacher, clued us into this spot. Thanks Matt!
Hostal Miguel
Hostal Miguel is a sweet and simple guesthouse located on a pedestrian street in the heart of Nerja’s old town. Plenty of shops, bars, and restaurants are right out the door, and the beach is just a few minutes walk away on Spain’s Costa del Sol. Singles start at 28 Euros. Lisa Lubin, our Emmy-award winning, world-traveler blogger friend nominated this one!
Casa de Amistad, also on Vieques, is a true island oasis at a great price. If you want to feel so comfortable that you can get coffee in your pajamas, then this is the place for you! With their house just next door, your hosts, Owen and David, are at your call, yet completely unobtrusive. They have stocked their guesthouse with everything you might need for the perfect beach vacation, including snorkeling equipment, beach chairs, and coolers for a picnic lunch. Doubles start at US$75. Peg from Gloucester made this savvy recommendation.
Carringtons Inn
Carringtons Inn overflows with warm hospitality and island charm. This former winter home of a wealthy family is perfectly perched on a hill overlooking the town of Christiansted on St. Croix’s northeastern coast. Breakfast is lovingly prepared by innkeepers, Claudia and Roger. Doubles start at US$100. Thanks to Jennifer from Chicago for this recommendation.
The apartments are where it’s at at Mary Lee’s by the Sea, on Puerto Rico’s quiet southwest coast. They are huge and decorated to the nines in a funky Floridian style. We had great fun exploring the bay and mangrove islands in a kayak that we launched right from Mary Lee’s dock, just a stone’s throw away from our porch. Doubles start at $100.
This list is just a beginning of the kind of insider tips you can find at darngooddigs.net. We now have 64 reviews of extraordinary places to stay, all nominated by fellow travelers or personally visited by us! Come join us if you want to receive our quarterly newsletter to stay up-to-date on all the new digs we add.
